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General tips about writing
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Be clear
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VAGUE: | Because of inclement weather, our trip to Vancouver
Island was delayed. | | DEFINITE: |
Because it rained, we postponed our trip to Vancouver Island.
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Make definite assertions
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NEGATIVE: | Because the children cannot spare the time
from their studies, we do not often have the television on between
seven and ten o'clock at night. |
| POSITIVE: |
Because the children need to study, the television is turned off
from seven to ten every night. |
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The Active Voice
The active voice is direct and vigorous. In grammar, passive
describes a sentence in which something sits and waits for something
to happen to it. With passive sentences, you sound like someone
who sits and waits for things to happen.
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PASSIVE: | The ball was kicked by John. |
| ACTIVE: |
John kicked the ball. |
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Put emphatic words at the end of the sentence
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WEAK: | This steel is principally used for making razors,
because of its hardness. |
| CORRECTED: |
Because of its hardness, this steel is used
principally for making razors. |
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Read your work aloud
If a writer can persuade
someone else to read the work aloud, he is fortunate. Hearing places where
the reader stumbles, hesitates, or repeats words, will indicate danger
spots that probably need re-writing.
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Avoid weak qualifiers |
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VERY: Use this word sparingly. Where emphasis
is necessary, use words strong in themselves. Other overused qualifiers
include QUITE, RATHER, PRETTY. |
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